Saturday, January 22, 2011

Wisconsin Works To Poach Illinois Businesses

By Andrew Thomason, Illinois Statehouse News
Leaders in neighboring states have used Illinois’ recent income tax increase to try to lure businesses into moving, and Wisconsin could soon have another piece of bait in that battle: tax breaks.

A plan to forgive income taxes for two years for businesses that move to Illinois’ northern neighbor has passed through one chamber of Wisconsin’s Legislature and is now awaiting state Senate approval. The measure got overwhelming approval in Wisconsin’s Republican-controlled state Assembly, and could be passed out of the Republican-controlled state Senate as early as next week. It would then go to GOP Gov. Scott Walker, who campaigned on corporate income tax breaks.

“It’s like when you see these rental properties that might have a bunch of empty units and offers the first month’s rent free if you sign a lease with us. It’s the same concept,” Walker spokesman Cullen Werwie said.

Walker has been vocal about trying to lure companies out of Illinois and into his state since the income tax hike, but at least one Wisconsin business isn’t listening. Jim Rozell owns a hotel analytics company in Glendale, WI, but plans to relocate to Chicago by the end of the year. Hotel Compete currently has five employees, but Rozell said he will likely hire 10 more people once he comes to Illinois.

Rozell said he started planning the move before taxes went up Illinois, but hearing about it didn’t deter him. “Initially one of my big deciding factors was that taxes were much lower (in Illinois). Even with your tax increase, it’s still lower than Wisconsin,” Rozell said.

Quinn’s office has been working to counter claims by Walker and opponents of the tax increase in Illinois that employers will flee the state now. Earlier in the week it was announced that Evraz Inc., a steel company, will locate its North American headquarters to Chicago, bringing with it 70 jobs. And Quinn’s office sent out a release Friday afternoon announcing that Becker Iron & Metal, a scrap metal company, would be moving from Missouri to Illinois, bringing with it 40 jobs.
You can read Andrew's full report at: http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/4977/wisconsin-works-to-poach-illinois-businesses/

1 comment
:

Anonymous
said...

Quinn can brag all he wants about bringing two giants (metal companies)to Illinois. (Sarcastic), but its going to be the small ones that we put out of business, plus not luring the larger manufacturers ie; automotive and the like who employ hundreds to thousand employees.